Abstract
This study examines the psychometric qualities of the Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire (RSQ) on a Turkish sample. Downey and Feldman (1996) developed the RSQ to assess rejection sensitivity and they conceptualized it as a tendency to expect anxiously to be rejected and having proclivity to perceive and overreact to rejection cues. University students (N = 715) rated RSQ in two different studies. Additionally, half of the students (N = 407) completed friendship quality and attachment styles measures whereas the other half (N = 308) completed the responsibility attributions for negative partner behaviors and unstable self-esteem measures to test the predictive validity of the RSQ. Factor analyses showed that the 18-item questionnaire has a stable single factor solution with high reliability. Confirmatory factor analyses confirmed one factor solution consistently in two samples providing evidence for cross-validation of the RSQ. In support of the predictive validity, rejection sensitivity was found to be associated negatively with friendship quality and positively with unstable self-esteem, responsibility attributions for negative partner behavior, and anxious and avoidant attachment styles. The findings revealed that Turkish RSQ was a valid and reliable measure. The results were discussed along with the suggestions to improve the scale in line with the culture.
Keywords: Rejection sensitivity, attributions, unstable self-esteem, friendship quality, attachment styles.